Hy-Vee has quietly changed the hours of its downtown Des Moines store to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., partially backtracking from a previous cut in hours to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. that drew blowback from the city and groups representing downtown residents and businesses.
The store previously had been open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and city officials said the dramatic reduction in hours, which Hy-Vee instituted Feb, 5 without informing the city, violated a 2015 development agreement.
Asked Friday about the apparent 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. revision, reported on social media sites, Hy-Vee spokesperson Tina Potthoff declined to confirm it and would only say that the company was continuing to hold “conversations” with the city. A Des Moines Register reporter, however, visited the store and made purchases shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday and shortly after 7 a.m. Monday.
As of Monday afternoon, the store’s website still listed the 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours,, and there was no updated signage on any of its doors Sunday evening or Monday morning.